There’s watching Formula 1 on TV…and then there’s hearing an F1 car fly past you in real life.
I finally checked a major experience off my bucket list and attended my first Formula 1 race at the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Between the Sprint, qualifying, race day, exploring all the F1 activations, shopping for merch, and experiencing the energy of a Grand Prix weekend for the first time, I quickly understood why people plan entire trips around F1 races.
If you’re considering attending the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, especially for your first F1 race, I’m sharing everything I learned from our weekend—from where we stayed and how we got to COTA to what to wear, where to buy merch, and a few things I’d do differently next time.
Getting to Austin for the F1 United States Grand Prix
We actually flew into Houston rather than Austin for our trip. My brother and sister-in-law live in Houston, so it made the most sense for us to fly there, meet up, and drive together to Austin.
The drive from Houston to Austin is roughly 2.5–3 hours, depending on traffic. Flying directly into Austin will obviously be more convenient for most visitors, but Houston can be worth considering if Austin flights are particularly expensive during Grand Prix weekend—or, like us, you’re combining F1 with time in Houston.
Just remember that Grand Prix weekend brings a lot of people into Austin, so build extra time into any travel plans.
Where We Stayed in Austin
This was a family trip with my siblings and cousins, so we opted to rent an Airbnb in Austin rather than book multiple hotel rooms. It gave us more space, allowed everyone to stay together, and worked really well for our group.
If you’re attending F1 with friends or family, I would definitely compare vacation rentals with hotel rates before booking.
Most importantly: book early.
Hotels and vacation rentals can become expensive during Formula 1 weekend, and the best-located options go quickly. As soon as you know you’re going to COTA, start looking at accommodations.
How We Bought Our COTA F1 Tickets
One of my favorite finds for the trip was actually our ticket deal.
We purchased 3 Day General Admission passes through Costco, which ended up being a great value. While the passes covered the full weekend, we attended Saturday and Sunday, which worked perfectly for us.
If you’re debating whether General Admission is enough for your first Formula 1 race, I thought it worked really well.
COTA’s size and elevation mean there are several areas around the circuit where General Admission ticket holders can watch the action. The biggest trade-off is that you don’t have an assigned seat, so if you have a particular viewing location in mind, plan on arriving early.
Before buying tickets, I’d compare the different official ticket options, authorized packages, and any promotions available for your race year. We happened to find an excellent Costco offer, but packages and availability can change.
Getting to COTA + Parking
Transportation was one of the things I wondered about most before the trip.
We decided to drive to Circuit of the Americas both Saturday and Sunday. We managed to find parking in a lot near the rideshare pickup and drop-off area for approximately $50 per day.
From there, it was around a 10-minute walk to the entrance, which we found completely manageable.
That said, COTA is huge. Your walking definitely doesn’t stop once you enter the gates!
Wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk throughout the day. Depending on where you’re watching the race, exploring activations, and getting food, you’ll easily cover quite a bit of ground.
Traffic is also part of the F1 experience. Give yourself plenty of time both arriving and leaving, particularly on Sunday.
Texas Heat Is No Joke
If I could emphasize one practical tip for COTA, it would be this:
Prepare for the heat.
Saturday was around 90°F and incredibly humid, and race day felt even hotter.
You’re outside for hours, and depending on your ticket location, you may have very little shade. I recommend checking the current COTA rules before your specific race weekend, but plan your day around the sun and heat regardless.
A few things I was very happy to have:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Portable phone charger
- Lightweight, breathable clothing
- A small portable fan
And hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Don’t underestimate how different 90 degrees feels when you’re standing outside in the Texas sun for hours.
Give Yourself Time to Explore COTA
One thing that surprised me about attending my first Formula 1 race was how much there is to do besides watching cars on the track. COTA feels like an entire F1 festival.
There are sponsor activations, photo opportunities, entertainment, food, shopping, displays, and plenty to explore between sessions. If it’s your first Grand Prix, I recommend arriving early enough that you aren’t rushing directly to your viewing spot. Part of the fun is simply walking around and taking everything in.
Watching the F1 Sprint from the COTA Observation Tower
One of the coolest experiences of our entire weekend was watching the F1 Sprint from the observation deck at the iconic COTA Observation Tower.
The elevated view gives you such a different perspective of the circuit. From above, you can really appreciate the scale of COTA and see so much more of the track at once.
Watching the cars race from that vantage point was incredible and ended up being one of my favorite views of the weekend.
If you’re attending the United States Grand Prix for the first time, I highly recommend making time for the Observation Tower, especially during one of the weekend’s on-track sessions.
Don’t Skip the American Express Activation
One of my favorite brand activations of the weekend was American Express, and this was one line that I thought was completely worth waiting in.
I’ve been an American Express Card Member since 2007 and am currently a Platinum Card Member, so I especially loved seeing the additional perks available to Card Members throughout the Grand Prix weekend.
The activation was a fun break from the track and one of those experiences that made the weekend feel like more than simply attending a sporting event.
If you’re an Amex Card Member attending an F1 race, I would absolutely look into what experiences or benefits are being offered for your specific Grand Prix before you go. Activations and Card Member benefits can change from race to race and year to year.
What I Wore to My First F1 Race
Obviously, I couldn’t go to my first Formula 1 race without having a little fun with the fashion.
One of my favorite pieces from the weekend was an upcycled F1 top I found on Etsy via The Charming Paddock. I loved that it felt completely unique compared with traditional team merchandise, and the shop owner was also the sweetest. If you’re planning your own F1 outfit, my biggest advice is to balance style with practicality.
COTA involves heat, sun, crowds, grass, hills and a lot of walking. This is not the weekend for uncomfortable shoes!
Formula 1 fashion has become part of the fun of race weekend, so embrace the racing jackets, vintage-inspired pieces, team colors, checkered prints and F1-inspired accessories—just make sure you can comfortably wear your outfit for an entire day at the track.
Saturday vs. Sunday at the United States Grand Prix
If your schedule allows, I really recommend experiencing more than just race day.
Saturday gave us the chance to experience the Sprint and qualifying, explore the circuit, visit the activations, and get a feel for COTA before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
By race day, we already had a better sense of the circuit, where we wanted to go, and how everything worked. And then there is Sunday.
There is something completely different about the energy of an F1 Grand Prix in person. The crowd, the anticipation before lights out, and especially the sound and speed of the cars are difficult to appreciate until you’re actually standing beside the circuit.
Watching F1 on television simply doesn’t prepare you for how fast these cars feel in person.
Is General Admission Worth It at COTA?
For our first Formula 1 race, I was really happy with our General Admission tickets. But General Admission does require a little more planning.
If there’s a specific part of the track you want to see, research the different viewing areas before race weekend. COTA is a large circuit, and walking from one area to another can take longer than you expect.
For race day especially, arrive early if you want your pick of General Admission viewing spots.
If you’re attending all three days, I’d also use Friday or Saturday to explore different areas of the circuit. That way, you aren’t trying to figure everything out right before Sunday’s race.
If having a guaranteed seat, shade, or a specific view is important to you, it may be worth comparing grandstand or hospitality tickets instead.
Stay for the Podium and Track Experience If You Can
One thing I wish we could have done was stay for the post-race celebrations.
Fans have the opportunity to make their way onto designated portions of the track after the race and head toward the podium celebration. We opted out because we still had to make the drive back to Houston that evening, but it looked like so much fun.
If I attend COTA again and don’t have somewhere to be immediately afterward, I’m staying! Just remember that thousands of other people will have the same idea, so factor the extra time into your plans for leaving the circuit.
Is the Austin F1 Grand Prix Worth It?
Absolutely.
As someone attending a Formula 1 race for the first time, I loved that Austin gave us the best of both worlds: a fun destination weekend with my family and the experience of seeing F1 in person at COTA.
Yes, it was hot. Yes, there was traffic. Yes, we walked a lot.
But none of that took away from how exciting it was to experience my first Grand Prix.
The biggest surprise for me was realizing that Formula 1 is about so much more than the race itself. It’s travel, fashion, hospitality, brand experiences, entertainment and, of course, incredible motorsport all wrapped into one weekend.
And hearing those cars in person for the first time? Nothing compares.
Austin officially made me want to experience even more Grand Prix weekends around the world.
If you’re planning your first Formula 1 race in Austin, I hope this guide makes navigating COTA and Grand Prix weekend a little easier.
My first F1 race definitely won’t be my last. See you at the next Grand Prix!
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